Encounter the Fourth

“I have to ask,” she said as she stared down at her cup of hot chocolate, “do you stalk a new student every year, or is this a ‘just me’ thing?” Cautiously, blue eyes rose to meet the grey that she knew were watching her. They exchange glances in silence for a moment before her lowered his own gaze to his coffee and took a careful sip.

“You think it is more than a coincidence that we keep meeting like this?” he asked calmly, stirring the dark liquid before him. Juri inwardly wondered why he even bothered to do so, he drank it black.

Scoffing, she fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair. “I think it’s more than a coincidence that you magically show up any place I do right after I do, that you just happened to start taking the same route and the same bus to campus that I do even though you have a car, that you find excuses to ‘consult’ with me outside class about your future lesson plans. Yes, I think it’s more than a coincidence. I think it’s creepy. I should report it to the Dean of Students as harassment.” Without looking at him, she could already see the careful smile forming on his lips. It was not an evil expression, but nevertheless it made her shiver every time she saw the subtle emotion it summoned on his face, his eyes glittering as his lips stretched over white teeth.

“But you have yet to do so.” A challenge. She knew it was a challenge.

“No.”

“And why is that?”

His eyes were so grey. Who in the hell had grey eyes? Slate grey eyes? Really!

“…Buying me hot chocolate every time you see me won’t win you any favor, you know.” That smile grew, and this time she made the mistake of looking.

“You said you don’t like coffee. Would you prefer juice instead?”

“No.” God, she wanted to reach across the table and punch him. “I want you to stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Stalking me.”

“I’ve already expressed the fact that I’m not–”

“You ARE. You are and you know it.”

“…”

“…”

“I was thinking for Monday’s lecture–”

“ARGH!”

~ by eeratka on October 25, 2007.